Whether you're just starting out with a few chickens, or you've been raising chickens for some time and you're looking for a change, finding the best feed requires a little research. With so many brands to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one is best.
We have put together a guide to assist you in finding the right feed for your chickens, and we have listed several top brands. We considered different options which we will discuss below and ultimately decided on the top brand. We hope you find this article useful in your decision.
The 7 Best Chicken Feeds
- Prairie's Choice Non-GMO Backyard Chicken Feed
- Coyote Creek Certified Organic Feed
- Kalmbach Feeds All Natural Layer Crumble
- Scratch and Peck Feeds
- Brown's Layer Booster Chicken Feed
- Small Pet Select Chicken Layer Feed (Our Top Pick)
- Manna Pro Organic Grower Crumbles
Our Top Pick for the Best Chicken Feed
Our top pick for the Best Chicken Feed is the Small Pet Select Chicken Layer Feed.
We highly recommend the Small Pet Select Chicken Layer Feed for your feathered flock. Whether you have Leghorn chickens or Rhode Island Reds, this fantastic chicken feed will make sure that your fowls grow up healthy and strong.
Crafted with care and full of organic superfood goodness that is tailormade for chickens, the Small Pet Select Chicken Feed is 100% safe for your birds to eat every day.
How to Choose the Best Chicken Feed
There are a few things to consider when buying chicken feed. You want to make certain they will be receiving the right amount of nutrition in their diets, but you also have to consider the fact that chickens like to have the option to eat at any given time. Factoring in cost may be important to some of you. We've listed a few suggestions that will hopefully assist in your decision.
What Nutrients do Chickens Require?
While their age and the fact that you may have other chickens besides egg-layers among your flock are important considerations, all chickens require certain things in their diet. Just like a lot of animals, chickens require carbs, protein, fats, minerals, and vitamins. It's important to look for a feed that has a good formula that includes all of these things.
Coarsely-broken oysters shells can provide the calcium needed for egg-layers to produce eggs with strong shells.
Here's the complete breakdown of what nutrients do chickens need.
How Much Feed do Chickens Require?
Chickens like to eat several times a day. A standard-size hen will eat 1/4 to 1/3 pound of pellets a day. In addition to chicken feed, vegetables, tables scraps, and scratch feed are perfectly fine if given sparingly. Chickens also require constant access to grit, which is tiny rocks stored in the gizzard for grinding up food.
How Do I Know I'm Buying the Correct Feed?
As their caregiver, you will notice soon enough whether or not your chickens are thriving. The most important aspect of chicken feed is that it includes a good formula of the nutrients mentioned above. Give your flock a few days to get used to the new feed. If you notice they aren't eating as much as before, you may want to reconsider the brand as they may be a little pickier than the average flock.
Some feeds come mixed with ground limestone or oyster shell for grinding up food. If you would like for the feed you purchase to include this, be certain to look at the label. Some may find it easier to just buy it separate as a scratch feed.
Another consideration is whether or not non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) feed is important to you. While most brands advertise non-GMO, there are a few brands that do not.
Popular Chicken Feed Brands
Several brands offer different types of feed in their line, while others may just offer the one type.
- Prairie's Choice
- Kalmbach
- Coyote Creek
- Scratch and Peck Feeds
- F.M. Browns
- Hiland Naturals
- Manna Pro
The Best Chicken Feed – Reviews
We found the following brands to be excellent choices. We've included product descriptions and a list of pros and cons.
1. Prairie's Choice Non-GMO Backyard Chicken Feed
Available in a grower formula and layer formula, Prairie's Choice pride themselves on non-chemically processed soybean feed and non-GMO ground corn. Ingredients include protein, fat, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, and salt.
Added nutrients such as vitamin A, D-3, E, B-12, folic acid, and more are also included in the feed. The layer formula is intended for egg-layers only. The grower formula contains a little more protein which egg-layers do not need as much of. The feed comes in 25 lb bags.
Pros:
- It contains a good mix of vitamins needed.
- Non-GMO and non-chemically processed are healthier options for your flock.
Cons:
- A little more expensive compared to other brands
2. Coyote Creek Certified Organic Feed
Coyote Creek offers feeds specifically for starters, developing pullets, and egg-layers. Their feed is a combination of organic corn, organic soybean meal, organic milo, roughage products, and a host of vitamins and supplements.
They also offer a soy-free feed for egg-layers. Their feeds are 100% organic and non-GMO certified and are sold in 20-lb bags.
Pros:
- Includes a variety of vitamins and supplements
- This line offers a fair-size variety
- Less expensive than most other chicken feed
Cons:
- Nothing that we can think of
3. Kalmbach Feeds
Kalmbach offers a feed for growers and egg-layers with the option of buying organic feed with Omega or all-natural with high Omega for egg-layers.
The layer crumble contains a higher calcium content and amino acids for stronger eggs. Ingredients include corn, soybean meal, grains, wheat middlings, and a large variety of vitamins and supplements. The feed is offered in 40-50 lb bags depending on the type purchased.
The layer crumble contains a higher calcium content and amino acids for stronger eggs. Ingredients include corn, soybean meal, grains, wheat middlings, and a large variety of vitamins and supplements. The feed is offered in 40-50 lb bags depending on the type purchased.
Pros:
- Large variety of nutrients are included
- Good price for the amount of feed
- Variety of layer feed
Cons:
- The packaging says “Natural” but it's not Non-GMO
4. Scratch and Peck Feeds
The Scratch and Peck Feed is non-GMO, all organic feed consisting of wheat, barley, peas, sesame meal, and a large variety of other vitamins and supplements.
They offer feed for starters, layers, and growers. Their feed is corn and soy-free. It also contains ground limestone and oyster shell for digestion. The feed is available in 25 lb bags.
Pros:
- Includes ground limestone and oyster shell for easy digestion which usually requires a separate purchase
- Large variety
- Whole grains, no corn, and soy
Cons:
- Cost is a little higher for the amount of feed
- Some chickens seem to dislike it
5. Brown's Layer Booster Chicken Feed
Brown's Layer Booster Chicken Feed includes corn, soybean meal, wheat middlings, and other supplements. It also includes vitamins E, A, and D-3.
They pride themselves on the use of natural plant protein. While their main feed is for layers, they also offer a starter feed. The feed comes in 20 lb bags.
Pros:
- High in protein and calcium for layers
- Competitive price for the quantity
Cons:
- Corn is the main filler
- Doesn't offer as many vitamins/supplements as other brands
6. Small Pet Select Chicken Layer Feed
Your chickens will love eating the Small Pet Select Chicken Layer Feed.
Packed full of fresh natural ingredients that are locally sourced in the Pacific Northwest, the Small Pet Select layer feed is the premium choice for ensuring the health of your birds.
Safe to use, the NON-GMO chicken feed is completely soy and corn free and contains everything your flock needs to thrive. This combination mix contains essential high protein pellets, grains, and seeds with a light basting of Omega-3 vegetable oil.
Ingredients include peas, wheat, oats, pumpkin sunflower, flax seeds, millet, fish meal, kelp, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. It also contains calcium, so you do not have to add it separately.
To keep the ingredients fresh, store the bag in a cool, dry place. The chicken feed is available in a 10-pound and a 25-pound bag.
Small Pet Select offers a 100% 30-day replacement guarantee or an online store credit on the chicken feed.
Pros:
- Great quality
- Excellent value for money
- Affordable price
- All-natural ingredients sourced out of the Pacific Northwest
- Non-GMO, corn-free, and soy-free
- Packed full of goodness
- Combination mix contains high protein meal, seeds, grains Omega-3 vegetable oil, vitamins, and other essential nutrients
- Calcium is already added
- Comes in a 10 and 25 lb bag
- 100% 30-day replacement guarantee or store credit
Cons:
- Pellets might be a bit big for smaller hens
7. Manna Pro Organic Grower Crumbles
Manna Pro offers a large variety of specialty feeds including Omega Egg Maker Supplement, medicated starter feed, treats, and grit. Their organic grower crumbles are non-medicated and non-GMO. It's high in protein to promote healthy weight gain and muscle strength. Bags are available in 10 or 30 lbs.
Pros:
- Large variety of specialty feeds
Cons:
- Fairly new brand
- A little more expensive compared to other brands for the amount available
Our Top Pick for the Best Chicken Feed
Our top pick for the Best Chicken Feed is the Small Pet Select Chicken Layer Feed.
While all of the above brands are excellent choices, we were able to narrow it down to a favorite. Considerations we used included the variety available, the amount and variety of nutrients included, the cost versus the size of the bag, and whether or not the product was non-GMO.
We highly recommend the Small Pet Select Chicken Layer Feed for your feathered flock. Whether you have Leghorn chickens or Rhode Island Reds, this fantastic chicken feed will make sure that your fowls grow up healthy and strong.
Crafted with care and full of organic superfood goodness that is tailormade for chickens, the Small Pet Select Chicken Feed is 100% safe for your birds to eat every day.
